On Facebook there are a lot of quizzes about America and I do them for no real reason just to see how I do and most of the time I do pretty damn good getting most of the questions right. So I have been wondering how well my overseas followers know Australia so here is half a dozen questions about my country.

I will tell you the answers tomorrow. See if you can answer them without Google

What is the capital of Australia?

How many states are there?

How many stars are on our flag?

What is the country’s largest city?

Who was our first Prime Minister?

What two animals are on our coat of arms?

Yesterday was Father’s Day here in Australia as everyone knows Father’s Day is the day to show appreciation to fathers and father figures. I happen to think I have the best dad ever, but I guess I am not alone thinking that my bloody siblings think the same think. Oh yeah other people might think they have great fathers and maybe they do but my dad could always do anything he set his mind to. I remember when I was a teenager my nan asked me what type of man did I want to marry and all I could think was one like dad, and you know what I ended up doing just that. Tim and dad are so much alike the older Tim gets the more like dad he gets.

Father’s Day is a not a public holiday in Australia, however, since it is a Sunday many workers are off anyway. Usually restaurants and cafes are very busy. This was the case with the Eastern Tiger Restaurant where my family went for lunch yesterday. There wasn’t as many as on Mother’s Day only 8 of us yesterday as Sandra & Ed couldn’t make it and neither could Kathy & Michael and Natasha had to work so she couldn’t come. I want to say a big thank you to Kathy & Michael for watching Leo while Jessica came with us. We didn’t want to pay $18.50 for Leo when he would spend most of the time running around and eating only some ice cream and hot chips.

I gave my dad a couple of books for Father’s Day and Leo had me by him a scratchie (scratch lottery ticket) as he saw the ones I had bought for Tim and wanted them, he wanted one for dad and one for pop. I said to him you mean papa (Tim) and he said “no pop, you know other nanna’s pop” (my dad) so Saturday morning I went out and bought two scratchies for him.

Oh yeah you may be wondering about him wanting one for dad since he doesn’t have a dad, well “dad” is Jono, Blain’s dad he knows Jono isn’t his dad but he will tell you if you ask why he calls Jono dad that he is sharing Blain’s dad since he doesn’t have a dad.

Now just a little history about Father’s Day, you know I have searched and searched but couldn’t find when the first Father’s Day celebration was in Australia.

The idea of a special day to honour fathers and celebrate fatherhood was introduced from the United States; a woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by the Mother’s Day celebrations and planned a day to honour fathers in 1910. The first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington on the 19^th June 1910.

Yeah one more thing before I go, I only had to my dad a present from me and Tim this year as my siblings managed to get their own presents how cool is that. Yes all my siblings know if they can’t get dad or mum a present at any time all they have to do is ask me and I will get something for them to give them but this yeah none asked and I didn’t remind them so I was hoping they all got dad something and they did so a happy Jo-Anne indeed.

 

Good afternoon, I am doing another post about the First World War, yes this topic does interest me a lot and I have a couple of more posts in the works but for today you get this.

Ok the First World War started in August 1914 I think we all know that but do you know who the war was between, or what caused the war to start with, my research says it had a lot to do with the decisions taken my statesmen and generals during the July Crisis of 1914 caused by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie.

When people think of the war they will usually think of the trenches which were massive, the trench system stretched from the Swiss mountains to the English Channel. We can envision the mud full trenches with the barb wire, well I can.

We all know that the winners of the war were the Allies but what name was given to the other side, my daughter Jessica asked me that question not long ago while I was watching a show about the First World War so I had to look it up they were called the Central Powers which was composed of the following nations, Austria-Hungary who entered the war on the 28^th July, the German Empire from the 1^st August, the Ottoman Empire who secretly entered the war on the 2^nd August and openly on the 29^th October and there was the Kingdom of Bulgaria who joined the war on the 14^th October 1914

The war ran from the 28^th July 1914 to the 11^th November 1918 so it lasted 4 years 3 months and 1 week, we all should know about Armistice Day which is the same day as Remembrance Day. The very first Armistice Day was held at Buckingham Palace on the morning of 11^th November 1919, this would set the trend for a day of Remembrance for decades to come. In fact here in Australia and I know in New Zealand as well on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month we stop for a minutes silence to remember those in all wars that have died.

So many died and really it was just the start of things as I am sure many people would agree that the Second World War was a continuation of the First World War.

Private Henry Tandey

I wonder what the British soldier who could have killed Hitler but didn’t would think later on after Hitler came to power and caused so much destruction and death. Private Henry Tandey couldn’t have known what type of man Hitler was or would become.

Private Tandey would become the most decorated British solider of the First World War, his courage and bravery in his determination to take down the enemy and rescue his wounded comrades earned him a chestful of medals including the distinguished Victoria Cross and Military Medal.

Private Tandey carrying a wounded comrade

 

Good morning world, what a nice dry, coldish day with a strongish wind blowing outside I am up and dressed and waiting for my mum to pick me up to go and see nan at the nursing home haven’t seen her in a couple of weeks and I can tell you I miss seeing her.

Today I am going to talk a little about military medals and decorations, starting with The Distinguished Service Order also known as the DSO it is a military decoration of the United Kingdom and formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth and British Empire.

It was awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. It was instituted on the 2^nd September1886 by Queen Victoria and was awarded for the first time on the 25^th November 1886.

It is typically awarded to officers’ ranked mayor or higher, but the honour has sometimes been awarded to especially valorous junior officers. During the First World War, 8,981 DSOs were awarded, each award being announced in the London Gazette.

Between the years of 1914 and 1916 it was awarded to staff officers who did not serve under fire after the 1^st January 1917 commanders in the field were instructed to recommend this award only for those serving under fire.

Prior to 1943 is was only given to someone mentioned in despatches, the order is generally given to officers in command above the rank of captain. When a junior officer was awarded the DSO it was often regarded as an acknowledgement that the officer had only just missed out on the Victoria Cross,

In 1942 the award started to be given to officers of the Merchant Navy who had performed acts of gallantry under fire and enemy attack.

Since 1993 the award has been restricted solely to distinguished service such as leadership and command by and rank, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross was introduced as the seconded highest award for gallantry. It has, however, remained an officers-only award and it has yet to be awarded to non-commissioned rank.

Recipients of the order are officially known as Companions of the Distinguished Service Order. They are entitled to use the letters “DSO”. One of more gold medal bars ornamented by the Crown may be issued to the DSO holders performing further acts of such leadership which would have merited award of the DSO. The bars are worn as clasps on the medal ribbon of the original award.

No you may be wondering what it looks like well I could tell you but I think it is better to just show you so here it is.

I will write more about other medals in other posts.

Good morning could say another day another dollar, but I don’t work and such I don’t get another dollar each day so I really shouldn’t say that, how about I say Spring has sprung a leak…………..yeah yesterday was a lovely spring day and today it is cold and miserable looking again. It is supposed to rain for the rest of the week but as yet it hasn’t.

Today is Leo’s dress rehearsal for his concert and the night of the concert is Thursday, why do they have to have these things at night and don’t say because it is held out of school hours they could hold it on a Saturday or what the hell hold it during school hours and yes I know parents work and can’t make it during school hours and I am only thinking of myself, so shoot me………….

Moving on do you have false teeth?

If so how often do you wear them, I have partial upper and lower teeth and I usually only wear them to eat as I find them annoying but recently I have thought I would like to wear them more so last night I decided to do what my sister recommends and wear them to bed she things if you sleep in them your mouth gets use to them. So I wore them to bed but after a couple of hours I had to get up and go to the toilet and had to take them out as they wore bothering me.

I just put them in again and already they are annoying me and I want to take them out, Jessica says I sound funny with them in and I know I do which is another reason I don’t wear them very often. However, I know if I don’t wear them I will never get use to them and such it is like catch 22, I think……….

My nan has false teeth and I never saw her without them, in fact she always wore them till she went into the nursing home, now she doesn’t wear them at all as after she had been in the home a while she started to complain when the staff went to put them in so they stopped doing so and now her mouth has shrunk and they don’t fit any more and anyway she no longer knows how to chew and can only have soft food.

My mum also has false teeth has done since she was in her 20’s and we rarely see her without her teeth although like nan she has full plates, mum puts her teeth in as soon as she gets up and they stay in all day and that is what I would like to do if only I could get used to having them in all the time.

Yesterday Jessica had to take the 12 seater van back into work and swap it for a 8 seater Targo and although the Targo is newer and nicer she doesn’t like it and wants the 12 seater back, which she should get back tomorrow. Leo was excited about another car to ride in.

What else? I can’t think of anything else so I guess I will end this here and post it because what is the point in writing it if I don’t post it…………..

Remember I like comments, like all bloggers do, really what blogger doesn’t like comments, so leave me one and I will of course read it and reply because that is just good manners.

 

 

Good morning world it is a nice morning here in my part of the world, and it is also the start of Spring and it is kicking off on a high note, it is dry and warm it’s supposed to be a nice 24°C today which for those who don’t use Celsius that’s 75°F.

Over the weekend I did bugga all, ok Saturday I did go out and get Leo another pair of school shoes and a couple of other things and I went to the library but that was all. Yesterday I did nothing accept 2 loads of washing which I was able to peg out to dry as it was a lovely day out.

My mum is at last sounding and feeling much better, the antibiotics have helped so I think we will be going to see nan on Wednesday, haven’t been for two weeks as mum has been too sick to go.

On Friday Jessica took her work car in and swapped it for a 12 seater van, she was told she was getting an 8 seater car but they gave her the van.. Before giving it to her someone took her out for a drive in it to see how she could handle it and she was told by the guy that he had no worries about her driving it as she handled the van just fine. Jessica, however, feels it will take her a little while to get use to driving something so big but at the same time she likes it and it should stop the fighting in car between the children she drives.

She has also decided to get Leo into OOSH a couple of more mornings a week as her first pick up is in Belmont which is on the way to my place so she will drop Leo off at OOSH and then start her run picking up the child in Belmont first this means I will not have to drive Leo to school as often but I will be picking him up from school as OOSH costs more in the afternoon because they give the children afternoon tea. Leo loves OOSH so I expect he will be happy.

You know last night I was in bed at 6.50pm I was so bloody tired and at risk of becoming over tired if I stayed up any longer, however, at 7.40pm Jessica comes in and wakes me to pack Leo’s school lunch for today and to find him some school clothes I was so tired I did it all in sleep like state.

Oh yeah mum was telling me last night that her and dad went out yesterday with Dave’s family to some place in Edgeworth that has miniature trains and trains you can ride on around the area, they were there all day and mum said that her and dad had a great time and thought that Kathy’s girls and Blain & Leo might like the place. You have to take your own food and drink and have to get there early as it gets quiet crowded.

I remember many years back when my girls were only little that Tim’s father talked about going there but we never got around to doing so but we didn’t like spending a lot of time with Tim’s side of the family mostly because they are all weird people and we never felt at ease around them and of course none of them liked me they thought I thought I was too good for them which to be honest I did, this is because Tim’s family are very bogan like.

Oh yeah it is 15 days till we fly out for Hawaii and I really need to get my ass into gear and go and get the spare parts for my Cpap machine I want to take extra clips and I need a new strap for it as well. Last time we went to New Zealand a clip broke and I was screwed till we got back thankfully it broke the second last night in the country but still I think I will take spares with me this time.

Ok I think that is all so I will leave you all here and remember I like comments so feel free to leave one.

When I was younger I loved to wear high heeled shoes, in fact I was wearing them only 2yrs ago without any problem now I am not talking about stilettos but high heeled shoes. The shoes had 3-3 ½ inch wedge heels on them and I loved them.

Now though this last year I have found it difficult to wear the shoes they feel ok on but after 45-60 minutes I feel like my ankle or knee is going to give out on me and I will fall over. In fact I have fallen over a couple of times wearing them, it is like my ankle and knee are not stable enough for me to wear the shoes.

When I wear them I always take a spare pair of shoes that are semi flat meaning they have a slight heel, I can’t wear flat shoes they make my legs ache something fierce.

I feel that I may have to accept that my high heel wearing days are over because it is not a nice feeling to feel like your ankle is going to give out on you causing you to fall over.

Anyone else have this problem?

Is it just part of getting older, or is just me?

My mum used to wear heels all the time too but hasn’t worn them much in the last 15-20 years, she told me she gave up wearing them altogether after her last fall when she broke her shoulder that was in 98.

I am so like my mum I feel it is bloody lucky that I haven’t had more falls and suffered any breaks although unlike my mum I have taken calcium tablets for the last 10 years to help keep my bones strong.

The pictured shoes are not my shoes found the pictures on the internet, but my shoes are the same just different colours.

Good morning all, how is everyone on this fine Saturday morning I didn’t do five things for Friday yesterday because well I forgot.

My Friday was about as busy as always, although I did have to drive Blain to school and then come home and wait for the tow truck to pick up Jessica’s car.

Yes My Blain stayed Thursday night his mum said she wouldn’t have a car to get him to school and his school is near my house so he stayed here.

Jessica’s car well it was backfiring and stalling a lot on Monday night she drove it to her sisters place in the afternoon and when it came time to leave it backfired and stalled three times before she even got out of the street so she decided to drive it back here and stay here the night and Tim booked it into Gaspower to have it looked at.

Now because it was backfiring and stalling all the time and in fact on the 1k trip from Natasha’s to here it backfired and stalled 6 times, neither Jessica or myself wanted to drive the car to Gaspower which is about a 3k trip. So we told Tim we didn’t want to drive it and he got all pissy over it and thought we were babies.

Anyway I left it said nothing for a day then told him I thought we should have the car towed to Gaspower through the NRMA (National Roads & Motorists Association) we pay into the NRMA roadside assist so the tow cost nothing. When I brought up having it towed he was like that is a good idea, it may be too dangerous to drive the car.

Yeah Tim what changed, oh I know you want to work bitched about how your wife and daughter were babies for not wanting to drive the car and someone said they thought it might be dangerous to drive it and so you changed your mind I know you my love…………….lol

So Jessica’s car is now running ok and it only cost her $450 all up to get the backfiring to stop and of course this happened at rego time so all up again to get her car registered again it cost her $1,500. This is the third year in a row that she has had to fork out that much money to keep the car on the road.

Tim is off work today and at last going to have his eyesight checked not because anything is wrong but because at our age we should have it checked every 2 years.

Oh yeah my mum is at last on antibiotics and starting to sound a little better but she still has a ways to go before she is well it has been like a week and half that she has been sick and this is not like mum, she doesn’t get sick this is the sickest we have seen her in like 6years I think.

Despite being really sick she has been still getting up and driving grandchildren to school and daycare and going to the shops to get things she needs and then going home and back to bed. I could go mad at her but let’s be honest I would do the same.

I could have a bitch about Jessica and how she isn’t on top of things happening at Leo’s school, like the fact that there is this big school spectacular happening next Thursday night and when I asked her if Leo was in it and if so what did he have to wear.

Well she had no idea; yes he is in it and has to dress up like a bikie in black jeans, back shirt, black shoes or boats, sunglasses and a bandana for his head. So now I have to find him the right clothes and shoes his school shoes are black so he can wear them and I have jeans in his drawer and I should be able to find him a black shirt. I did tell Jessica to look for his black boots and all she could say is I don’t know where they are and in the end she made me so frustrated just talking to her about this. I feel like she is the mother she is the one who should be all over this but no it falls to me, just like his homework is all up to me. I love her but at times she makes me want to scream and yes Jessica I know you don’t like me talking about you on my blog but it is my blog and I will if I want to…………so there…………

Sorry this has ended up a long ass post, with a lot of bitching from me.

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Can a baby cry when it’s inside its mother?

Why does pizza come in a square box but the pizza is round?

 

Good morning world today I thought I would write a little about the month of August, like did you know that this year there are 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays and this only happens every 823 years. The Chinese call it “Silver pockets”.

Did you know about the following dates in August, if not now you do.

• 1 August is Swiss National Day.
  
• 6 August is Independence Day in Jamaica since 1962.
  
• 9 August is the National Day of Singapore.
  
• 15 August is Indian Independence Day since 1947.
  
• 14 August is Pakistan’s Independence Day since 1947.
  
• 17 August is Indonesia’s Independence Day since 1945
  
• The Philippines celebrates National Heroes Day in commemoration of the First Cry of the Philippine Revolution on August 23, 1896.
  
• 24 August is Independence Day in Ukraine since 1991.
  
• 27 August is Moldova National Day
  
• 31 August is the National Day of Malaysia.
  

  
  

Now I am sure most people know that the 1^st of August is the horse’s birthday in the Southern Hemisphere, in the Northern Hemisphere it is the 1^st of January just saying, I live in the Southern Hemisphere in case you didn’t know.

August’s birthstones are peridot and sardonyx which are green and red, the birth flower is the gladiolus or the poppy these flowers mean beauty, strength of character, love, marriage and family.

August has two zodiac signs Leo and Virgo depending on what part of the month you are born.